Maximum Medical Improvement

Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is a term used in personal injury cases that do not involve a wrongful death.  MMI occurs when the injured person’s medical condition has improved to the best it is ever going to be.  To reach MMI a person has to treat with their doctor long enough so the doctor can diagnose all of the injuries, determine whether the injuries are permanent, and if so, determine any future health care needs.  Sometimes a person is at MMI very quickly.  For example this can occur in a couple of months after breaking bones.  On the other hand, with a back injury it can take six months or more.  With head injuries a person may not reach MMI for a year or two.

In some cases it makes sense to enter into settlement negotiations immediately and resolve a claim quickly.  Generally, however, it is not a good idea to make an official claim for compensation until you have reached MMI.  This is because it is not possible to know the full extent of your damages until you have reached MMI. 

Once the injured person reaches MMI, their treating physician will write a final report documenting the extent of the injury, the permanent nature of the injury, the type of future medical care needed, and the cost of future medical care.  The treating physician’s final report is often a critical piece of evidence needed to prove the right to compensation.